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Dear Volunteers,
We are pleased to have had a smooth reopening thus far, and have welcomed more than 50,000 visitors in June.
Everybody's Garden
If the recent protests are making you think about environmental justice, you're not alone, and you can read the Garden's statement here. Here are a few great articles by Bay Nature about efforts and conversations happening here in the Bay Area.
A Word on Face Coverings
The Garden's policy on face coverings is based on Public Health Order No. 19-12b, which states, “They may remove their Face Covering when eating or drinking if they are alone or with only members of their household or living unit and nobody else is within six feet. And a person who is alone or with only members of their household or living unit, is stationary in an outdoor area such as a park or patio, and is maintaining at least six feet of distance between them and the nearest people who do not live with them does not need to wear a Face Covering so long as they have one readily accessible.”
But, as this article by Bay Nature: Q&A with UCSF Dr. Sohil Sud on Staying Safe Outdoors reminds us:
“Outside is an absolutely wonderful place to be. In addition to the many intrinsic benefits of nature to one’s health (for both mental and physical well-being), ventilation and sunlight dilute and likely inactivate viruses. This is one of the many reasons that healthcare facilities across the country house COVID-19 testing sites in outdoor tents. However, since so much is as yet unknown, the key is to not rely solely on Mother Nature to protect us; we should all do our part through physical distancing and wearing masks.”
Thanks for doing your part to keep the Garden community safe!
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Remembering Mary Pitts
I want to recognize the recent passing of a dear volunteer, Mary Pitts (center, with visor). Mary was a member of the Board of Trustees and led tours in the Garden for more than twenty years, but she supported the Garden way beyond these specific roles. She was a cherished presence in the lives of so many people, and we are so grateful that she poured her love and energy into the Garden for all these years. Obituary
A formal memorial will be held in the Celebration Garden of the San Francisco Botanical Garden, with a modest delay due to the pandemic – please save the date of Saturday, August 22, 1:30-3:30pm. Confirmation will follow in due course.
Mary's family is accepting text or short video (1-3 minute) about Mary's life. Any story or memory that makes you think of Mary – especially with a laugh or smile — would be wonderful to have. You can share by email (lhpitts@yahoo.com) or by uploading them directly to Dropbox using this link. You can share photos as well through me (cwieland@sfbg.org). They've created a playlist of some of Mary’s favorite music.
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Slices of Garden Joy
A big thank you to volunteers Pat Koblenz, Joyce Kurtz, Joan Comer, Eleanor McBride, Harriet Iwamoto, Sarah LaFrance, and Diana Cohen who stitched more than 100 beautiful cloth face coverings for Garden staff and volunteers. We'll have them available during volunteer sessions, but you can contact me if you need one.
Botanical Watercolor class (Online): Led by Garden volunteer Serena Weitershausen, a set of 4 2-hour sessions starting July 9. View the attached flyer for complete details. Course fee is $80. Click here for details and to register.
The Garden has hosted 2 very small (max 12 people) weddings in June, using the beautiful Moon Viewing Garden & Fragrance Garden for small private ceremonies. Visit sfbg.org/event-rental to learn more about hosting an event in the Garden.
65 Green Team & Gardener's Assistants volunteered in the Garden in June, contributing around 500 hours to weeding, mulching, pruning, and otherwise tidying the Garden. We are so glad to be able to support our horticulture team again!
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What's next for volunteers?
We are continuing to slowly reintroduce volunteers in the Garden. Here are our plans for July.
- Bean Sprouts 2.0: family programs in the Children's Garden. We will be reaching out to Children's Guides and Children's Garden Program Aides to support this revised program, now on weekdays. Details here.
- Green Team will continue to work in pods of 3 with an assigned horticulturist on weekdays. Several Gardener's Assistants are also active. If you are interested in joining the Green Team this summer please contact me directly.
- The Member Plant Sale on July 11 will have limited volunteer support- helping with line management, plant loading, and check-out.
- We hope to open the Bookstore on July 11, and the Plant Arbor on July 18, and will be looking for volunteer support on weekends.
- Docents will be invited to welcome and greet visitors in key points in the Garden.
All volunteers must communicate with me before returning to the Garden. There are several changes to the volunteer program in addition to COVID-19 related safety concerns. Please contact me directly with questions or interest.
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Finally, a tribute to Flower Piano. Feel free to share and repost #SFBG your favorite Flower Piano videos from years past!
Wishing everyone the best,
Chloe
Chloe Wieland | Director of Volunteer Engagement
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San Francisco Botanical Garden
P (415) 661-1316 Ext. 400
C (415) 629-2010
9am-5pm, M-F
cwieland@sfbg.org
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